I bought a new series 4 with lifetime , which I hate, added ethernet cable 100ft and a WD external drive to try to save my recordings at one point. Most recordings were copy protected so that was a waste. a spent over a thousand for the first series 4 with lifetime. I use it in classic menu now due to bugs.

Nothing worked, Bought two more series 3, same model, on ebay, because I love it. Best tivo ever. OLED and THX, extra controls on unit!

The errors started on the new units!!!
Every tivo "in that room"

after many years, it turns out it was the new Wireless N network adapter! every tivo it was connected to had the same problem, it seemed to obtain data, but it was corrupt!

I switched out the new Wireless N network adapter the ailing tivos immediately downloaded fresh data and started working normally with nothing else needing to be done.

I had spent almost 2 thousand dollars and bought three tivos, and several drives, I really didn't need.

I have some nice new tivos and spares, and all have larger drives, but tivo didnt know what it was... they didn't really help much.

They tried to make up for it... with discounted lifetime memberships.

I am very upset all my problems were caused by the defective Wireless N network adapter, wish I figured it out sooner.

Kickstarts seemed to fix the probs temporarily sometimes, but then stopped helping. That adapter was a nightmare.

Tivo exchanged the defective new adapter for a refurb, problem finally solved.

They didnt seem to realize this is a cause of SO3s, I have not seen my valuable info believed or repeated ever.

Spread the word, I think many of you have a similar problem, especially if your problems started after upgrading to wireless N

I bet there was a bad batch with bad Firmware and/or hardware.

I know this will help many of you.

there is no doubt here.This is real. To actually know the cause is refreshing.

Now I have 5 tivos (4 HD) and all are 2TB huge but it was not worth losing all my recordings, season passes, all that aggravation and money.

I'm mad but happy it is over now.

Tivo why dont you tell people this is the cause of MANY So3?

Symptoms persisted so long and was repeated many times. On new tivos, different units, and new drives, new images. Then the new adapter solved all the problems on all the units that had malfunctioned and been taken out of service. I thought it was maybe my internet connection etc, "something in that room". The solution was definitive and leaves NO ROOM for error.

The N adapter was bad... But behaved perfectly when, programmed, reset to defaults, or updated, or when connected to a computer. It even functioned as a wireless Ethernet connection on other devices, but when connected to a TiVo, DISASTER after a few weeks or Months.

It Murdered, by slow painful death, so many tivo's, images, and drives its sad.
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This was reposted here as suggested by unitron.